Hot Work Safety Program

See requirements for performing hot work during maintenance and construction activities at UC San Diego.

Hot work refers to operations that are capable of initiating fires or explosions. Hot work includes (but is not limited to):

Welding

Grinding

Hot riveting

Sandblasting

Brazing

Soldering

Heat treating

Thermal spraying

Arc cutting

Oxygen cutting

Powder-actuated tool

Torch down roofing

Hot work requirements apply to all UC San Diego employees, students, and volunteers whose activities involve hot work at UC San Diego. This program does not cover use of candles, laboratory activities, pyrotechnics or special effects, and cooking equipment.

Perform hot work operations only in designated areas or permit-required areas.

A designated area is a permanent hot work location designed for or approved by a Competent Hot Work Safety Supervisor (CHWSS). Designated areas are essentially free of combustible and flammable contents and are segregated from adjacent areas. Examples: a maintenance shop or a detached outside location constructed of noncombustible or fire-resistive materials.

A permit-required area is an area made fire-safe by removing or protecting combustibles from ignition sources.

Hot work is not allowed in:

Buildings with fire sprinklers if the fire protection system is impaired

Areas where explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres are present (e.g., on drums or tanks previously containing solvents or other combustible or flammable materials, high or low-pressure gas lines, etc.)

Areas with an accumulation of combustible dusts where explosive atmospheres can develop (e.g., wood working dust collection systems)

Hot Work Permits are issued annually to departments by the campus fire marshal. Applicable fire codes and basic operational instructions are printed on the blanket permit. The Hot Work Safety Checklist (PDF) provides staff with a quick reference.

Hot Work Permit / Hot Work Checklist for Contractorsand Activity Logs (PDF) (Word) are maintained by the CHWSS authorizing specific hot work activities. Before hot work operations begin in a permit-required area, a Hot Work Permit must be issued to the crew performing the work and a Hot Work Activity Log must be prepared by the CHWSS or qualified designee.

Based on local conditions, the CHWSS will determine how long the Hot Work Permit is valid (not to exceed 24 hours).

Before hot work begins

Hot work is allowed only in fire-safe areas. (See "Where hot work may be performed" above.) The following conditions must be confirmed by the CHWSS before hot work operations can commence:

Make sure equipment to be used (e.g., welding equipment, shields, personal protective equipment, fire extinguishers, etc.) is in satisfactory operating condition and good repair.

Sweep the floor clean for a radius of 35 feet if combustible materials such as paper or wood shavings are present.

Keep combustible floors (except wood on concrete) either wet, covered with damp sand, or protected by noncombustible or fire-retardant shields, blankets, pads, and/or curtains.Note: Where floors have been wet down, personnel operating arc welding or cutting equipment must be properly grounded and equipped with spark arrestors protected from possible shock or flash burns.

Move combustible materials at least 35 feet away from hot work operations. If relocation is impractical, protect combustibles with fire-retardant covers, shields, blankets, or curtains. Edges of covers at the floor must be tight to prevent sparks from going under them, including where several covers overlap when protecting a large pile.

Tightly cover openings or cracks in walls, floors, or ducts within 35 feet of the site with fire-retardant or noncombustible material to prevent the passage of sparks to adjacent areas.

Provide fire-retardant shields or guards to prevent ignition if hot work is done near walls, partitions, ceilings, or roofs of combustible construction.

Take precautions to prevent ignition of combustibles on the other side of walls, partitions, ceilings, or roofs where hot work will be performed by relocating them. If it's impractical to relocate combustibles, post a hot work fire watch on the opposite side from the work. (See "Hot work fire watch" below.)

Do not attempt hot work on a partition, wall, ceiling, or roof that has a combustible covering or insulation, or on walls or partitions of combustible sandwich-type panel construction.

Do not perform hot work on pipes or other metal that is in contact with combustible walls, partitions, ceilings, roofs, or other combustibles if the work is close enough to cause ignition by conduction.

Make immediately available at the work area 2 fully charged and operable fire extinguishers appropriate for the type of possible fire. Extinguishers should be supplied by the group performing the hot work.Note: Fire extinguishers normally located in a building do not fulfill this requirement.

Take special precautions to avoid accidental operation of automatic fire detection or suppression systems (for example, special extinguishing systems or sprinklers). Lay wet rags over sprinkler heads that are close to hot work operations. Remove rags when hot work is completed.

Hot work fire watch

The CHWSS will determine when specific circumstances require a hot work fire watch. A "hot work fire watch" is an individual posted in specific circumstances to observe the hot work and monitor conditions to ensure that a fire or explosion does not occur. The hot work fire watch is authorized to stop any unsafe operation or activity.

Duties and responsibilities for hot work fire watch personnel include:

Watch for fires, smoldering material, or other signs of combustion.

Be aware of the inherent hazards of the work site and hot work.

Ensure that safe conditions are maintained during hot work operations. Stop the hot work if unsafe conditions develop.

Have appropriate fire extinguishing equipment readily available and be trained in its use.

Be familiar with the facilities and procedures for initiating an emergency response.

Extinguish fires only within the capacity of available equipment. If the fire is beyond the capacity of the equipment and personnel training, pull the fire alarm to notify building occupants, evacuate the building, call the UCSD Police 534-4357 (534-HELP) from a safe area, and provide incident-specific information to arriving emergency responders.

Maintain hot work fire watch duties during break periods.

Continue a hot work fire watch for at least 30 minutes after completion of hot work to detect and extinguish smoldering fires.

More than one hot work fire watch is required if combustible materials that could be ignited by hot work operations cannot be directly observed by a single fire watch (e.g., in adjacent rooms or subsequent floors where hot work is performed on a common wall).

Work closeout

Maintain a hot work fire watch for at least 30 minutes after completion of hot work operations to detect and extinguish smoldering fires.

The CHWSS or qualified designee will inspect the job site 30 minutes after completion of hot work and close out the Hot Work Permit/Activity Log with the time and date of the final check.

Keep the Hot Work Permit and Activity Log for 1 year following completion of the project.

Provide the name of their CHWSS to the campus project manager or superintendent

Perform hot work with guidance and training from a written program and in conformance with National Fire Protection Association 51B

Protect the general public at or near construction sites and projects from welding arcs and fumes

Protect existing buildings and mechanical systems from damage due to hot work activities

Confined spaces - Hot work operations in confined spaces require additional safeguards. Specifically, address safeguards in the designated work area or in the contractor’s Confined Spaces policy.

Lockout/ Tagout - Hot work on and near building systems and piping may require additional safeguards. Address safeguards in the designated work area or in the contractor’s Control of Hazardous Energy - Lockout/Tagout policy.